Help Us

The Nene Valley Railway is a successful heritage railway, which runs along part of the original London and North Western Railway branch line from Northampton to Peterborough. The line runs for 7½ miles through the Nene Valley from Peterborough in the east to Yarwell in the west, with stations along the line at Wansford, Overton (for Ferry Meadows) and Orton Mere. We use steam and diesel locomotives to run popular, all year round, passenger service ending the year with our Santa Specials in November and December. Throughout the year we also host a series of special events, including a steam gala; our famous diesel weekend; Thomas events; a 1940s weekend and much more. We also offer trains for hire, a venue for wedding and birthday celebrations and locomotive driving courses.

Why we need your supportProviding a heritage railway service is an increasingly expensive business, as the cost of restoring locomotives and maintaining railway lines and infrastructure continues to rise. We need your help to ensure the Nene Valley Railway can develop and grow for the future. The costs of some of our planned works illustrate the funds we need to find over the next ten years. All funds raised by the Friends will go towards the completion of our current projects.

YarwellThe railway worked with the Environment Agency to develop a new station at Yarwell. The station opened in 2007 and provides access to the Nene Way and to the beautiful Northamptionshire countryside.

Heavy overhaul workshopBetween 2004 and 2010 the Mechanical Engineering Department of the railway raised the funds and built the new heavy overhaul workshop at a cost of over £200,000. It is now being used to restore locomotives and rolling stock.

Securing our FutureThe success of the Nene Valley Railway over the last 37 years has been achieved through the hard work and commitment of members, staff and volunteers, working together with our many benefactors. To secure the future of the Nene Valley Railway we need to grow and develop and we need your help to achieve our aims.

Major projects* Ongoing improvements to visitor facilities at Wansford station* Night Mail museum at Overt (formerly Ferry Meadows Stn)* Restoration of locomotives and rolling stock currently out of traffic* Purchase and restoration of the old Wansford Victorian station building

Old Wansford StationWe are fundraising to purchase and restore the old Victorian station building to tell the story of steam and rail transport in our area.

Would you like to join us as a working volunteer?If you are interested in working as a volunteer at the railway then become a Member of the NVR. We often have vacancies for loco crews, engineers, both civil and mechanical, signalmen, guards, cafe, shop and booking office workers, travelling ticket inspectors and more. Contact the railway on 01780 784444 for further details.

Preserving our Railway HeritageThe Nene Valley Railway has been collecting objects and information about railways since 1977. We now have over 2,000 items in our collection, ranging from historic buildings and locomotives to uniforms and photographs of local people and places connected with the railway. We are currently looking for people who worked locally such as guards, drivers, firemen, porters, cleaners, and also for passengers who travelled in our area, to interview about their memories of the railway.If you have information, please get in touch. Contact Liz Davies, c/o NVR, Nene Valley Railway, Wansford Station, Stibbington, Peterborough PE8 6LR. Tel: 01780 784444 email: adminassistant@nvr.org.uk

Become a Friend of the Nene Valley Railway

Aim of the Friends* Helping to secure the future of the Nene Valley Railway* Providing funding to support projects* Ensuring the preservation of the Nene Valley railway line and rolling stock for future generations.

Benefits of becoming a Friend* The knowledge that you are supporting the NVR* Twice yearly newsletter in February and September* All regular donors and major contributors will be invited to an annual Friends Day, to include free travel on the railway on the day* Email updates about special events Please support us by joining the Friends and either* Completing a monthly standing order* Making an annual contribution* Making a donation to our fund